Wireless communication device interconnectivity

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication device that is attached or included in an electronic object, such as a portable computer, having its own separate communication system. The separate communication system has an antenna for receiving and transmitting wireless communications, and is powered by a power supply included in the object. Since the separate communication system can only communicate when powered, a separate passive wireless communication device is provided for wireless communication that does not require power from the power supply to communicate. The wireless communication device is interfaced with the existing antenna of the separate communication system so that the wireless communication device and separate communication system share a common antenna to reduce cost. The antenna may also be interconnected to a controller associated with the object so that the controller can directly communicate to the wireless communication device.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 60/331,963, entitled “Wireless Communication DeviceInterconnectivity,” which was filed on Nov. 21, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wireless communication device havingan antenna that is directly interconnected to a controller so that thecontroller has physical communication access to the wirelesscommunication device. Further, the present invention relates to awireless communication device connected to an antenna of a separatecommunication system wherein the wireless communication device and theseparate communication system share a common antenna for receivingand/or transmitting information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless communication devices, such as transponders, are commonly usedto wirelessly communicate information about goods. For example,transponders may be attached to goods during their manufacture,transport and/or distribution to provide information, such as the good'sidentification number, expiration date, date of manufacture or “born on”date, lot number, and the like. The transponder may also be configuredto receive and store security information concerning valuable goods,such as a portable computer. The transponder allows this information tobe obtained unobtrusively using wireless communication with aninterrogation reader without slowing down the manufacturing,transportation, and/or distribution process.

It may be desirable to provide a transponder or other wirelesscommunication device that is also accessible for communications by aseparate controller or other communication system using a directinterconnection. The controller may desire to retrieve informationstored previously by an interrogation reader in the memory of thewireless communication device without having to employ wirelesscommunication with the wireless communication device. The controller mayalso desire to use the wireless communication device as a “mailbox,” ormemory storage area. The information stored by the controller in thewireless communication device's memory can be later retrieved by thecontroller and/or an interrogation reader. In this manner, thecontroller has effective use of the wireless communication device as aseparate memory storage area that can also be wirelessly accessed by awireless communication system. There may be any number of applicationswhere this functionality is advantageous.

A problem exists when coupling the wireless communication device to thecontroller to provide the “mailbox.” Since a wireless communicationdevice is usually provided in the form of an encapsulated integratedcircuit (IC) chip, the only accessible interface to the wirelesscommunication device is through the interface pins on the chip. Wirelesscommunication devices typically do not contain an input or output portinterface that allows communication through direct interfacing.Therefore, a need exists to find a method of directly interfacing awireless communication device to a controller by other means, even ifthe wireless communication device was not intended to provide thisfunctionality.

Further, some electronic objects or other controllers have their ownwireless communication systems having an antenna separate from anywireless communication device that may be included with the controller.For example, consider a portable computer that has a Bluetoothtransceiver. The Bluetooth transceiver is coupled to an antenna that isused by the portable computer for short-range wireless communication.However, the portable computer must be powered in order to provide powerto the Bluetooth unit for wireless communication since Bluetoothtransceivers are not passive devices, meaning that they require a powersource to operate. It may be advantageous to provide a wirelesscommunication device, such as a transponder, on the portable computer sothat the portable computer may wirelessly communicate informationwithout being powered. However, a cost effective method must be providedfor doing so.

It may be desirable to store the identification of the portable computerin memory so that such information can be used during manufacturingand/or distribution for tracking. However, it may be necessary tocommunicate the identification information wirelessly even when theportable computer is not powered on. A wireless communication devicecoupled to the portable computer may be used to allow wirelesscommunication of information concerning the portable computer even whenthe portable computer is not powered, since the wireless communicationdevice can receive power from an incoming signal to provide power forcommunication.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide techniquesfor interfacing an external controller or other device directly to awireless communication device without interfacing with an input port onthe wireless communication device, something most wireless communicationdevices do not provide. Further, another object of the present inventionis to provide a cost effective manner to provide a wirelesscommunication device on objects already having a separate communicationssystem, so that information concerning the object can still bewirelessly communicated even if the object and separate wirelesscommunication system are not powered and therefore not operational.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the presentinvention and realize additional aspects thereof after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments inassociation with the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming a part ofthis specification illustrate several aspects of the invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a typical interrogation reader andwireless communication device in the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication device andantenna interconnected to a controller;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a UHF wireless communication device andantenna interconnected to a controller;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a low frequency (LF) wirelesscommunication device interconnected to a controller;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a security system for a portablecomputer employing a wireless communication device according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart diagram for the process of the security systemillustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication deviceinterconnected to an antenna of a cellular or mobile phone, wherein thewireless communication device and the cellular phone share a commonantenna and are designed to operate at different frequencies;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication deviceinterconnected to an antenna of a separate RF transceiver, wherein thewireless communication device and the RF transceiver share a commonantenna are designed to operate at similar frequencies;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication deviceincluded in a portable computer having a separate communication system,wherein the wireless communication device is interconnected to theantenna of the separate communication system when the portable computeris disconnected from a network connection or is powered off; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a reporting system that may be used inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a wireless communication device that isinterfaced directly to a separate device or controller to provide wiredcommunication access from the controller to the wireless communicationdevice.

The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 60/331,963, entitled “Wireless Communication DeviceInterconnectivity,” which was filed on Nov. 21, 2001. U.S. provisionalapplication No. 60/331,963 is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

The wireless communication device has an antenna for wirelesscommunications, which is interconnected directly to the controller. Inthis way, the controller does not connect to an input interface or theinternal components of the wireless communication device, and can emit asignal onto the antenna of the wireless communication device thatsimulates a wireless communication signal emitted by an interrogationreader. The wireless communication device will detect the incomingsignal from the controller as if the signal was communicated wirelesslyfrom an interrogation reader. The wireless communication device willrespond as normal and as designed, thereby allowing the controller tointerface directly with the wireless communication device for anypurpose desired.

The present invention also relates to a wireless communication devicethat is attached or included in an electronic object, such as a portablecomputer, having its own separate communication system. The separatecommunication system has an antenna for receiving and transmittingwireless communications, and is powered by a power supply included inthe object. Since the separate communication system can only communicatewhen powered, a separate passive wireless communication device isprovided for wireless communication that does not require power from thepower supply to communicate. The wireless communication device isinterfaced with the existing antenna of the separate communicationsystem so that the wireless communication device and separatecommunication system share a common antenna to reduce cost. The antennamay also be interconnected to a controller associated with the object sothat the controller can directly communicate to the wirelesscommunication device, as described above.

Before discussing the particular aspects, details, and applications ofthe interconnectivity of the wireless communication device according tothe present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 2-10 of this application,a typical wireless communication system in the prior art that may beused with the present invention is discussed below.

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless communication device and communicationsystem that may be used with the present invention. The wirelesscommunication device 10 is capable of communicating informationwirelessly. The wireless communication device 10 may include a controlsystem 12, communication electronics 14, and memory 16. The wirelesscommunication device 10 may also be known as a “radio-frequencyidentification device” (RFID) or “transponder,” and any of thesepreceding devices are interchangeably applicable to the presentinvention. The communication electronics 14 is coupled to an antenna 17for wirelessly communicating information in radio-frequency signals. Thecommunication electronics 14 is capable of receiving modulatedradio-frequency signals through the antenna 17 and demodulating thesesignals into information passed to the control system 12. The wirelesscommunication device 10 is typically an integrated circuit (IC) chipthat is encapsulated and includes external interface pins. The antenna17 may be any type of antenna, including but not limited to a pole orslot antenna. The antenna 17 may be internal or external with respect tothe wireless communication device 10.

The control system 12 may be any type of circuitry or processor thatreceives and processes information received by the communicationelectronics 14, including a micro-controller or microprocessor. Thewireless communication device 10 may also contain a memory 16 forstorage of information. Such information may be any type of informationabout goods, objects, or articles of manufacture, including but notlimited to identification, tracking, environmental information, such aspressure and temperature, and other pertinent information. The memory 16may be electronic memory, such as random access memory (RAM), read-onlymemory (ROM), flash memory, or other type of non-volatile memory (NVM),or a diode, for example. The memory 16 may also be mechanical memory,such as a switch or dipswitch, for example.

Some wireless communication devices 10 are termed “active” devices inthat they receive and transmit data using their own energy sourcecoupled to the wireless communication device 10. A wirelesscommunication device 10 may use a battery for power as described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,130,602 entitled “Radio frequency data communicationsdevice,” or may use other forms of energy, such as a capacitor asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,603, entitled “Implantable biosensingtransponder.” Both of the preceding patents are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

Other wireless communication devices 10 are termed “passive” devicesmeaning that they do not actively transmit and therefore may not includetheir own energy source for power. One type of passive wirelesscommunication device 10 is known as a “transponder.” A transpondereffectively transmits information by reflecting back a received signalfrom an external communication device, such as an interrogation reader.An example of a transponder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,280,entitled “Frequency diversity transponder arrangement,” incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. Another example of a transponder isdescribed in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/678,271, entitled“Wireless communication device and method,” incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIG. 1 depicts communication between a wireless communication device 10and an interrogation reader 20. The interrogation reader 20 may includea control system 22, interrogation communication electronics 24, memory2 6, and an interrogation antenna 28. The interrogation antenna 28 maybe any type of antenna, including a pole antenna or a slot antenna. Theinterrogation reader 20 may also contain its own internal energy source30, or may be powered through an external power source. The energysource 30 may include batteries, a capacitor, solar cell or other mediumthat contains energy. The energy source 30 may also be rechargeable. Atimer 23 may also be coupled to the control system 22 for performingtasks that require timing operations.

The interrogation reader 20 communicates with the wireless communicationdevice 10 by emitting an electronic signal 32 modulated by theinterrogation communication electronics 24 through the interrogationantenna 28. The interrogation antenna 28 may be any type of antenna thatcan radiate a signal 32 through a field 34 so that a reception device,such as the wireless communication device 10, can receive the signal 32through its own antenna 17. The field 34 may be electromagnetic,magnetic, or electric. The signal 32 may be a message containinginformation and/or a specific request for information from or taskperformance by the wireless communication device 10.

When the antenna 17 is in the presence of the field 34 emitted by theinterrogation reader 20, the communication electronics 14 is energizedby the energy in the signal 32, thereby energizing the wirelesscommunication device 10. The wireless communication device 10 remainsenergized so long as its antenna 17 is in the field 34 of theinterrogation reader 20. The incoming signal 32 is also amplitudemodulated to carry information in the form of data to the wirelesscommunication device 10. Data is communicated back from the wirelesscommunication device 10 to the interrogation reader 20 by modifying thewireless communication device's input characteristics. The change in thewireless communication device's input characteristics, which may beachieved by shorting some form of a transistor (not shown) across theinput of the wireless communication device 10, causes the incomingsignal 32 to be reflectively modulated with response information andre-emitted to the interrogation reader 20. This technique of a wirelesscommunication device 10 reflectively communicating a response back to aninterrogation reader 20 is well known in the art.

It is readily understood to one of ordinary skill in the art that thereare many other types of wireless communications devices andcommunication techniques than those described herein, and the presentinvention is not limited to a particular type of wireless communicationdevice 10, technique or method.

FIG. 2 illustrates the wireless communication device 10 having anantenna 17 that is interconnected with a controller 40 using connectionpoints 42A, 42B. Connection points 42A, 42B may be any type ofconductive material that is capable of conductively connecting acontroller 40 or other electronic device to the antenna 17. The term“interconnection” or “interconnectivity” is defined as a direct couplingor connection throughout this application. The wireless communicationdevice 10 is capable of receiving wireless communications through asignal 32, using its antenna 17 as described above and illustrated inFIG. 1. In addition to being capable of receiving wirelesscommunications, the wireless communication device 10 illustrated in FIG.2 is capable of receiving communications via a direct interconnectionwith the controller 40 through connection points 42A, 42B. In thismanner, the wireless communication device 10 can receive communicationsfrom two different sources: wirelessly from an interrogation reader 20and directly from a controller 40 or other electronic device through aninterconnection.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the wireless communicationdevice 10 can receive communications other than through a signal 32emitted by an interrogation reader 20. The wireless communication device10 may be powered by a direct current (DC) voltage 44 applied through adirect interconnect between the controller 40 and the antenna 17A, 17Bof the wireless communication device 10. The controller 40 switches theDC voltage 44 on and off at a rate that is substantially the same as theoperating frequency of the wireless communication device 10 and antenna17. In this manner, the DC signal 44 applied by the controller 40 ontothe antenna 17 appears the same as a wireless signal 32 from theperspective of the wireless communication device 10. The controller 40applies a signal 44 onto the antenna 17 that simulates a signal 32 froman interrogation reader 20 so that communication from the controller 40is handled by the wireless communication device 10 just as if thecommunication was received by a signal 32 emitted from an interrogationreader 20. The controller 40 receives the response from the wirelesscommunication device 10 by sensing the load on the power source.

In this configuration, the controller 40 is capable of communicating tothe wireless communication device 10 just as an interrogation reader 20would communicate to the wireless communication device 10. Thecontroller 40 may also desire to store data to and/or retrieve data fromthe memory 16 of the wireless communication device 10. This isespecially useful if the wireless communication device 10 is attached toan object wherein the wireless communication device 10 containsinformation about the object, such as identification information. Thecontroller 40 may receive such information through the antenna 17 of thewireless communication device 10. For example, it may be desirable forthe controller 40 and an interrogation reader 20 to exchangeinformation, but the controller 40 may not include its own wirelesscommunication system to communicate to the interrogation reader 20.

In the present invention, the interrogation reader 20 and controller 40are capable of exchanging information via the wireless communicationdevice 10. Since wireless communication device 10 and antenna 17configurations are low cost and easy to manufacture, they are easilyinterconnected to a controller 40 or other devices to provide dataexchange with an interrogation reader 20 is done in accordance with thepresent invention. Further, wireless communication devices 10 do nottypically include input ports, thereby making it impossible,notwithstanding the present invention, to directly interface acontroller 40 to the wireless communication device 10 for wiredcommunications.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the wireless communicationdevice 10 is also capable of acting as a wireless “mailbox” in that thecontroller 40 has access to the memory 16 in the wireless communicationdevice 10 for use as a storage device. A “mailbox,” in its broadestdefinition, is a storage device that is capable of storing information.The controller 40 need only be interconnected to the antenna 17 of thewireless communication device 10 and capable of communicating a signal44 having a protocol compatible with the wireless communication device10. Any information stored by the controller 40 in the memory 16 of thewireless communication device 10 may be accessed at a later time by thecontroller 40. Whether the controller 40 uses the wireless communicationdevice 10 as a “mailbox,” or as a communication exchange medium with aninterrogation reader 20, the present invention may be used for anyapplication or purpose where it is desirable for a wirelesscommunication device 10 to be accessible by a controller 40 or otherelectronic device via a direct interconnection and not solely throughwireless communications.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the controller 40 and wirelesscommunication device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein the wirelesscommunication device 10 is an ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID. Thewireless communication device 10 is interconnected, via a connection tothe antenna 17 of the wireless communication device 10, to anyelectronic device or controller 40. In FIG. 3, the controller 40 isprovided in the form of a microprocessor 40A.

The wireless communication device 10 operates as designed and as normalwhen receiving wireless communications via a signal 32 through theantenna 17, as previously described and illustrated in FIG. 1. Themicroprocessor 40A is interconnected to the wireless communicationdevice 10 through an input/output (I/O) device 50. The I/O device 50 isconnected to the wireless communication device 10 through a switchableinput/output (I/O) port 52 contained in the I/O device 50 that isconnected to an inductor 53, which is connected to one pole of theantenna 17A. The switchable I/O port 52 is the communication conduitbetween the microprocessor 40A and the wireless communication device 10.The other pole of the antenna 17B is connected to another inductor 54that is connected to ground. The inductors 53, 54 block thehigh-frequency signal 32 that is received by the antenna 17 from aninterrogation reader 20, but allow DC or low frequency signals from theswitchable I/O port 52 to pass through to the I/O device 50.

When the microprocessor 40A is powered down or is not emitting an outputcommunications signal 44 to the antenna 17, the switchable I/O port 52is configured as an input device. The microprocessor 40A controls theoutput 55 of a pull-up output device 56 and the output 57 of a secondoutput device 58 in the I/O device 50 using a first output signal 59that drives the second output device 58 and the pull-up output device 56into a tri-state mode. The pull-up output device 56 drives a pull-upresistor 60 so that the microprocessor 40A does not load the rectifiedsignal 32 from the wireless communication device 10 or otherwiseinterfere with normal operation of the wireless communication device 10.

When the microprocessor 40A is communicating to the wirelesscommunication device 10, the switchable I/O port 52 is configured as anoutput. The microprocessor 40A outputs a signal 44 through a secondoutput port 61 and the second output device 58 that is equivalent to therectified output of the wireless communication device's rectifier whenthe wireless communication device 10 is illuminated with an amplitudemodulated signal. The pull-up output device 56 is left in tri-statemode. This provides power to the wireless communication device 10 andallows the signal 44 to be sent to the wireless communication device 10.The microprocessor 40A then prepares to receive data from the wirelesscommunication device 10 by making the pull-up output device 56 an outputand setting it high, thereby making the switchable I/O port 52 an input.When the wireless communication device 10 modulates its input impedanceby switching its input transistor (not shown) on and off, thismodulation also pulls the input port 62 of the microprocessor 40A up anddown, using the pull-up resistor 60 as a load.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the controller 40 and wirelesscommunication device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein the wirelesscommunication device 10 is a low frequency (LF) RFID. For example, an LFwireless communication device 10 may operate at a frequency of 13.56MHz. The wireless communication device 10 may be interconnected, via aconnection through its antenna 17, to any electronic device orcontroller 40. This embodiment is different than the UHF wirelesscommunication device 10 illustrated in FIG. 3 due to the way that the LFwireless communication device 10 is designed to operate.

A typical LF wireless communication device 10 has an antenna 17 that isan inductive coil of wire 70, resonated with a capacitor 71 in parallelwith the inputs 72 of the wireless communication device 10 to form an LCantenna 17. An LF wireless communication device 10 tends to clock itscontrol system 12 and other internal logic from the incoming LF signal32. Therefore, a controller 40 that is interconnected with an LFwireless communication device 10 needs to assert a signal 44 onto theantenna 17 of the LF wireless communication device 10 that uses exactlythe same protocol and frequency as a signal received from aninterrogation reader 20. This is in contrast to the UHF wirelesscommunication device 10 that would typically require the controller 40to assert a signal 44 that is equivalent to the rectified signal 32.

The circuit that is used to interconnect the controller 40 to thewireless communication device 10 illustrated in FIG. 4 operates asfollows. The controller 40 drives a frequency signal 44 amplitudemodulated with data from an output port 73 when the controller 40desires to communicate to the wireless communication device 10. Thefrequency signal 44 provides both power to the wireless communicationdevice 10 and data to be communicated to the wireless communicationdevice 10. The frequency signal 44-is coupled to a limiting resistor 74and a DC isolating capacitor 76 to the LC antenna 17. This creates asignal across the LC antenna 17 that is identical to the signal 32 thatthe wireless communication device 10 would receive from an LFinterrogation reader 20. Another DC isolating capacitor 78 is connectedbetween ground and the other input 72 of the wireless communicationdevice 10. When the wireless communication device 10 communicates backto the LF interrogation reader 20 by creating a short across the coil70, a higher current will flow through the limiting resistor 74 andcause the voltage to drop at the limiting resistor 74. A diode rectifier80, that is connected to the input 82 of the controller 40, detects thevoltage at the limiting resistor 74 and thereby recovers any informationor data that is sent by the wireless communication device 10.

One novel application of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, isthe use of the wireless communication device 1 0 and controller 40configuration, illustrated in any of FIGS. 24, in a portable computer 90for security purposes. A portable computer 90 may contain a wirelesscommunication device 1 0 and controller 40, wherein the controller 40 isinterconnected to the antenna 17 of the wireless communication device 10as previously described. The portable computer 90 may be connected to ahost computer 94 or other computer system through a network 92, wherebythe portable computer 90 is capable of sending and receivingcommunications over the network 92 from the host computer 94, and to andfrom the controller 40 in the portable computer 90.

This security application is illustrated in the flowchart in FIG. 6.When the portable computer 90 is taken by its user when leaving a securebuilding or other facility, the user must indicate through an input tothe portable computer 90 that the user desires to transport the portablecomputer 90 (block 100). To transport the portable computer 90, theportable computer 90 obtains a permission token from the network 92,which is then written into the memory 16 of the wireless communicationdevice 10 by the controller 40 using the interconnection techniquesdescribed previously (block 102). The host computer 94 may only allowaccess to security tokens depending on the identification of the user.

Later, when the portable computer 90 is passed through a portal at theexit of the secure facility, the token stored in the wirelesscommunication device 10 is interrogated by the interrogation reader 20located at the portal (block 104). The interrogation reader 20determines if the token is valid (decision 106). The interrogationreader 20 is also connected to the network 92 so that the interrogationreader 20 is capable of receiving the same token as stored by portablecomputer 90 in the wireless communication device 10 for comparison andvalidation purposes.

If the token is valid (decision 106), the portable computer 90 isallowed to be taken from the secure facility since the host computersystem 94 is aware that the user previously obtained authorizedpermission to remove the portable computer 90 from the secure facility(block 108). The token may either be removed from the wirelesscommunication device 10 by the interrogation reader 20 or recorded bythe interrogation reader 20 as not being reusable in the future, so thatthe user must again obtain permission to remove the portable computer 90the next time the portable computer 90 is transported (block 110). Ifthe token is not valid (decision 106), the interrogation reader 20 cantake any measures desired or designed, such sending a response signaland/or controlling a visual or audible alarm or message, to indicatethat the portable computer 90 is not authorized to be removed from thesecure facility (block 112).

FIG. 7 illustrates another aspect of the present invention whereby awireless communication device 10 not having its own antenna 17 isconnected to an antenna 122 of a separate communication system. In thismanner, the wireless communication device 10 is sharing the antenna 122of the other communication system, thereby eliminating the need for thewireless communication device 10 to provide its own antenna 17. Thisaspect of the present invention may be used in conjunction with theinterconnectivity of a controller 40 or other electronic device to theantenna 17 of a wireless communication device 10, as described above. Inthis embodiment, the operating frequency of the wireless communicationdevice 10 is different from the operating frequency of the antenna 122of the separate communication system.

The wireless communication device 10 is coupled to a matching network120, which is in turn connected to the antenna 122 of a separatecommunication system 124. The separate communication system 124 may be acellular or mobile phone 124A that is designed to communicate at 920MHz, for example. The matching network 120 is provided to match theoperating frequency of the wireless communication device 10 to theoperating frequency of the antenna 122 and separate communication system124. The matching network 120 can prevent a transmission from theseparate communication system 124 from overloading the wirelesscommunication device 10. The matching network 120 may also prevent thewireless communication device's non-linear components to cause radiationof unwanted harmonics.

For example, the wireless communication device 10 may be designed to beinterrogated by an interrogation reader 20 at one band, say 869 MHz, andthe cellular phone 124A may be designed to operate at a higherfrequency, say 920 MHz. The matching network 120 may provide isolationbetween the cellular phone transmission to the antenna 122 and thewireless communication device 10. At 920 MHz, the cellular phone 124A ismatched to its antenna 122, and the matching network 120 transforms theimpedance of the wireless communication device 10 to a very highimpedance so that its connection to the antenna 122 does not affect theelectrical connection between the cellular phone 124A and the antenna122. At 869 MHz, the matching network 120 transforms the wirelesscommunication device 10 to an impedance that matches to the impedance ofthe antenna 122 ensuring efficient power transfer between the antenna122 and the wireless communication device 10 for efficient operation.More information on impedance matching between a wireless communicationdevice 10 and an antenna 122 is disclosed in pending patent applicationSer. No. 09/678,271, entitled “Wireless communication device andmethod,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention wherebythe wireless communication device 10 is connected to an antenna 122 of aseparate communication system 124. However, in this example, theoperating frequency of the wireless communication device 10 is similarto the operating frequency of the separate communication system 124. AnRF transceiver 124B and wireless communication device 10 are coupled tothe same antenna 122 and intended to operate inside substantially at thesame frequency band. The wireless communication device 10 is coupled tothe antenna 122 via a matching capacitor 130, an inductor 132, and aseries of GaAs field emitting transistors (FETs) 134. The capacitor 130and inductor 132 form an LC circuit, and the FETs 134 act as a switch.

When no radio-frequency power is present at the antenna 122 and theinput 136 of the wireless communication device 10 is 0 Volts, the FET134 has its gate and source at the same voltage, and presents a lowresistance to the antenna 122. When the RF transceiver 124B transmits asignal, power is coupled into the wireless communication device 10causing the voltage at the input 136 to rise, but also simultaneouslyreversing the bias at the gate of the FET 134 and reducing the coupling.Ideally, the attenuation provided by the FET 134 allows the voltage atthe input 136 to rise to a point consistent with proper operation of thewireless communication device 10, but no higher, thereby limiting thevoltage at the input 136.

FIG. 9 illustrates a similar technique to that illustrated in FIG. 8whereby a wireless communication device 10 is coupled to a distributedantenna 122 inside a portable computer 90. The portable computer 90contains a wireless local area network (WLAN) or Bluetooth communicationmodule 140 so that the portable computer 90 can be connected to anetwork 92 or other system for external wireless communications. TheWLAN or Bluetooth module 140 inside the portable computer 90 is coupledto an antenna 122 for wireless communications. In this embodiment, theantenna 122 is provided as two poles on different sections of theportable computer 90. The wireless communication device 10 is alsocoupled to the antenna 122 at a common connection point 142. Theportable computer 90 is adapted to provide a signal to open a normallyclosed switch (not shown), disconnecting the wireless communicationdevice 10 from the common connection point 142 when the portablecomputer 90 is powered on and/or the WLAN module 140 is operable. Whenthe portable computer 90 is not powered on and/or WLAN module 140 is notoperational, the wireless communication device 10 is connected to thecommon connection point 142, via the normally closed switch, to connectthe wireless communication device 10 to the antenna 122.

Note that the switching of the wireless communication device 10 to thecommon connection point 142 may be accomplished by other types ofswitches that may be automatic, controlled by sensing power from theWLAN module 140, or-controlled by the portable computer 90. Thisembodiment may also be coupled with a data connection between the WLANmodule 140 and the antenna 122, like that described previously and inFIGS. 2-4, to allow the wireless communication device 10 to act as a“mailbox” for the WLAN module 140.

FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a reporting system that may beprovided for the interrogation reader 20. The interrogation reader 20may be coupled to a reporting system 150. This reporting system 150 maybe located in close proximity to the interrogation reader 20, and may becoupled to the interrogation reader 20 by either a wired or wirelessconnection. The reporting system 150 may be a user interface or othercomputer system that is capable of receiving and/or storing datacommunications received from the interrogation reader 20. Thisinformation may be any type of information received from a wirelesscommunication device 10, including but not limited to identificationinformation, a security token, tracking information, information storedin the memory 16 of the wireless communication device 10 by acontroller, and/or other information concerning the wirelesscommunication device 10. The information may be used for any purpose.For example, the identification information of a portable computer 90having a wireless communication device 10 may be communicated to thereporting system 150 which may then be used for tracking, qualitycontrol, and supply-chain management for example. If the informationreceived by the reporting system 150 is not normal or proper, thereporting system 150 may control the-manufacturing operations to stopand/or change processes during manufacture and/or alert personnel incharge of the manufacturing process.

The reporting system 150 may also communicate information received fromthe wireless communication device 10, via the interrogation reader 20,to a remote system 152 and/or the interrogation reader 20. Thecommunication between the reporting system 150 and the remote system 152may be through wired communication, wireless communication, modemcommunication or other networking communication, such as the Internet.Alternatively, the interrogation reader 20 may communicate theinformation received from the wireless communication device 10 directlyto the remote system 152 rather than first reporting the informationthrough the reporting system 150 using the same or similar communicationmediums as may be used between the reporting system 150 and the remotesystem 152.

The embodiments set forth above represent the necessary information toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and illustratethe best mode of practicing the invention. Upon reading the precedingdescription in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilledin the art will understand the concepts of the invention and willrecognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressedherein. It should be understood that these concepts and applicationsfall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited toapplications disclosed in the patent application. It should also beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to any particulartype of component, including but not limited to the wirelesscommunication device 10 and its components, the interrogation reader 20and its components, the controller 40, a portable CPU 90, a hostcomputer 94, the matching network 120, the separate communication system124, including a mobile or cellular phone 124A or RF transceiver 124B,reporting system 150, and remote system 152. The present invention canbe used with any object including toys, calculators, watches,automobiles and their components, tires, etc. For the purposes of thisapplication, couple, coupled, or coupling is defined as either a directconnection or a reactive coupling. Reactive coupling is defined aseither capacitive or inductive coupling.

Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modificationsto the preferred embodiments of the present invention. All suchimprovements and modifications are considered within the scope of theconcepts disclosed herein.

1-14. (canceled)
 15. A portable computer security system, comprising: aportable computer, comprising: a wireless communication device havingmemory and an antenna for wireless communications, wherein said antennais adapted to receive communication signals having a defined protocoland a defined operating frequency for processing by said wirelesscommunication device; and a controller that controls the operation ofthe laptop computer and that is directly and communicatively coupled tosaid antenna using at least one connection point; wherein saidcontroller is adapted to send communication signals emulating saiddefined protocol at said defined operating frequency over said at leastone connection point to said antenna, wherein said wirelesscommunication device is adapted to receive said communication signalsfrom said controller for processing; and wherein said controller isadapted to communicate over a network; and a host computercommunicatively connected to said portable computer wherein saidportable computer is adapted to communicate a permission token requestto said host computer and said host computer is adapted to authorizesaid permission token request and communicate a permission token inresponse thereto to said portable computer, wherein said portablecomputer communicates said permission token to said wirelesscommunication device and said wireless communication device stores saidpermission token in said memory.
 16. The system of claim 15, whereinsaid wireless communication device is interrogated by an interrogationreader.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein said wireless communicationdevice communicates said permission token to said interrogation readerwhen said interrogation reader interrogates said wireless communicationdevice.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein said interrogation readerauthenticates said permission token by communicating on said network tosaid host computer to determine if said permission token is authentic.19. The system of claim 18, wherein said host computer authenticatessaid permission token by determining if said host computer previouslyissued said permission token.
 20. The system of claim 18, wherein saidinterrogation reader generates an alarm if said permission token is notauthenticated.
 21. The system of claim 18, wherein said portablecomputer is allowed to be removed if said permission token is authentic.22. The system of claim 18, wherein said interrogation readercommunicates with said wireless communication device to erase saidpermission token from said memory if said permission token is authentic.23-30. (canceled)
 31. A method of authorizing transport of a portablecomputer, comprising: requesting a permission token over a network froma host computer; authorizing said permission token request and sending apermission token in response if said permission token request isauthorized; receiving said permission token over said network by aportable computer; communicating said permission token to a wirelesscommunication device by sending a communication signal by directcoupling to an antenna coupled to said wireless communication device;and storing said permission token in a memory coupled to said wirelesscommunication device.
 32. The method of claim 31, further comprisinginterrogating said wireless communication device using an interrogationreader.
 33. The method of claim 32, further comprising communicatingsaid permission token to said interrogation reader after said step ofinterrogating.
 34. The method of claim 33, further comprisingauthenticating said permission token by communicating on said network tosaid host computer to determine if said permission token is authentic.35. The method of claim 34, further comprising authenticating saidpermission token by determining if said host computer previously issuedsaid permission token.
 36. The method of claim 34, further comprisinggenerating an alarm if said permission token is not authenticated. 37.The method of claim 34, further comprising communicating with saidwireless communication device to erase said permission token from saidmemory if said permission token is authentic.